Heel construction



Nov. 9, 1965 J. R. HOULE HEEL CONSTRUCTION Filed March 17, 1964 IN VENTOR JOSEPH ROSAIRE HOULE ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,216,133 HEEL CONSTRUCTION Joseph Rosaire Houle, 412 Madeleine St., Saint-Jerome, Quebec, Canada Filed Mar. 17, 1964, Ser. N 352,472 Claims. (Cl. 3634) This invention relates to the art of shoe heels, more particularly to an improved reinforced heel construction implementing the formation of a ladies high heel, of the type referred to as a spike heel.

Contemporary style requirements have created the need for forming a heel of relatively high dimensions, and relatively thin cross-section. These so-called spike heels, present problems due to the relatively elongate thin heel structure, which in normal wear supports the entire weight of the wearer, and as a result of the stresses imparted thereto is subject to breakage. In order to minimize this breakage, and permit a reduction in thickness of the heel itself, without materially increasing the weight of the heel, a variety of reinforcing inserts have been employed to increase the strength of the heel. Present fabrication techniques employ relatively lightweight molded plastics in forming these heels, which plastics though light in weight, and subject to being readily, and economically formed to desired contours, are generally not strong enough to withstand the stresses to which they are subject. A steel reinforcing stud has accordingly been inserted axially into the molded plastic heel to increase the strength of the resulting heel structure. It is found however that during normal wear, the impact loads to which the heel is subjected tends to drive the stud up through the top of the heel into the shoe. Aside from the obvious discomfort to the wearer, the displacement of the reinforcing stud from the bottom of the heel results in a lack of support for the bottom of the heel, and subsequent impact loads on the heel produce a crushing of the heel itself.

It is with the above problems and desiderata in mind, that the present means, including both method and apparatus have been evolved, means providing an improved reinforced heel construction of the type employed in forming ladies high heels of the so-called spike type in which axial shifting of the reinforcing insert is prevented, to thereby protect the foot of the wearer, and prevent crushing of the heel as a result of axial displacement of the reinforcing insert.

It is accordingly among the primary objects of this invention to provide an improved heel construction implementing the formation of a ladies high heel of the so-called spike type.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved heel construction implementing the formation of a heel body of relatively lightweight material, and at the same time providing requisite strength for the heel.

A further object of the invention is to implement the use of a reinforcing insert in a heel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reinforced heel structure in which the reinforcement is not subject to displacement into the shoe under conditions of normal wear.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a relatively crush-proof reinforced heel construction.

These and other objects of the invention which will become hereafter apparent are achieved by forming a heel member of desired contour, and arranging a reinforcing insert stud to extend axially through the heel member from a lower surface of the heel member to a point at a spaced distance from the top of the heel member. Positioned between the top of the heel, and the top of the reinforcing insert is a bearing plug formed of a material having greater compressive strength than the material of the heel member. It is preferred that this bearing plug, notwithstanding its' greater compressive strength, have a resilient quality whereby the shock load imparted thereto through the reinforcing insert will be damped.

Among the features of the invention is the provision of the reinforcing insert with a threaded surface permitting its adjustable positioning within the heel to accommodate any variations in length of the insert such as occurs in normal fabricating procedures.

Another feature of the invention is that the insert which is relatively small as compared to the heel does not interfere with the desired flexibility of the heel such as is necessary for walking comfort.

The specific details of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and their mode of functioning will be made most manifest, and particularly pointed out in clear, concise, and exact terms in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of a heel made in accordance with the teachings of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view with parts broken away showing the components of FIG. 1 in assembled relationship indicating how the bearing plug is positioned with respect to the reinforcing insert stud; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view through a heel made in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, like numerals in the various figures will be employed to designate like parts.

As seen in the drawings, the heel 10 comprises a heel member 11 which may be made of any conventionally employed heel material. Contemporary production techniques utilize plastic materials of a tough, horny, high impact, moldable, nature. A variety of different blends of rubber and resin, or graft polymers of resin, or monomers grafted onto rubbery polymeric substrates are found satisfactory. Materials such as Cycolac, Kralastic or the like are found particularly suitable. The heel member 11 is provided with a conventional top surface 12 adapted for securement to the undersurface of the shoe, and a lower surface 13 to which the heel lift is applied. In the illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention, a recess 14 having an internally threaded surface 15 is provided in the top surface of the heel member 11.

A reinforcing insert stud 18 formed of steel, or the like material, having a relatively high compressive and bending strength is arranged in the heel member 11 to extend from the lower surface 13 to the recess 14, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the insert stud 18 is provided with a head 19 at its lower end.

Secured to the insert head 19, either by molding, or by stretching of the material of which it is formed, is a lift 22 having an aperture 23 from which the stud 18 extends, the stud head 19 being arranged within the lift itself.

Since in normal use, the heel member 11 is subject to compressive distortion with a resultant reduction of the height of the heel as a load is applied thereto, the insert stud 18 which does not compress at the same rate as the heel material is generally made shorter than the height of the heel. In normal fabrication, a distance of between .2" and .5" is generally allowed between the top of the stud 18, and the top surface 12 of the heel member '11. According to the invention, a bearing plug 25 formed of a material having a higher compressive strength than the material of which heel member 11 is formed is provided.

Materials such as nylon are found particularly suitable when the heel member 11 is made of a graft polymer such as Cycolac. The bearing plug 25 is dimensioned to provide a cross-section greater in area than the cross-section of the insert stud 18 and plug 25 is preferably provided with a seat 26, as best seen in FIG. 3 to accommodate the top end of stud 18. The bearing plug 25 is provided with an externally threaded surface 27 for mating with the internal threads of recess 14. A screwdriver slot 28 is preferably provided at the top of the plug to implement its insertion into recess 14 of heel member 11.

Operation In use of the aforedescribed heel construction, the heel member 11 is molded to desired contours and is preferably provided at the time of molding with an axial aperture to accomodate the insert stud 18, and with the threaded recess 14. The reinforcing insert stud 18, with its associated lift 22 is in position with respect to the heel member 11, with the insert extending into the heel with a press fit serving to insure maintenance of the insert stud in assembled relationship with respect to the heel member 11. Thereafter the bearing plug 25 is positioned in threaded recess 14, and is preferably screwed down to a point so that the lower surface of the bearing plug 25 contacts the top end of insert stud 18. The assembled heel 10 is then ready for securement to a shoe in conventional fashion. As the shoe is worn, normal impact loads imparted to the assembled heel 10 are first taken up by the lift 22 which transmits the load to insert stud 18 which bears against the bearing plug 25. The resiliency of the heel member 11 which is necessary to provide desired comfort permits a slight shifting of the insert stud 18 with respect to the heel member. The presence of bearing plug 25 prevents the insert stud 18 from permanent displacement from the lower surface 13 of the heel member, and as a result the previously encountered crushing of the bottom of the heel member 11 which takes place when the insert is moved upwardly is eliminated. Additionally the possibility of the insert 18 being driven up through the bottom of the shoe is eliminated.

It is thus seen that an improved heel construction has been provided implementing the formation of a high heel of relatively light materials, reinforced to provide desired strength, and with the reinforcing insert not subject to being driven up into the heel or displaced from the bottom of the heel to permit undesired crushing thereof.

The above disclosure has been given by way of illustration and elucidation, and not by way of limitation, and it is desired to protect all embodiments of the hereindisclosed inventive concept within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A heel construction comprising:

a heel member having a top surface adapted for securement to the undersurface of a shoe, and a lower surface, said heel member having a recess in its top surface;

an insert stud extending through said heel member into said recess;

a non-deformable plug positioned in said recess in bearing relationship with said stud to accommodate shock loads on said stud; and means for holding said plug fixed in said position.

2. A heel construction as in claim 1 in which said plug is formed with a cross-sectional area greater than that of said insert stud.

3. A heel construction as in claim 1 in which said plug is formed of a material having a greater compressive strength than the material of said heel.

V 4. A heel construction as in claim 1 in which said means for holding said plug fixed in said position comprises an external thread on said plug and a complementary internal thread in said recess.

5. A heel construction comprising: a heel member having a top surface adapted for securement to the undersurface of a shoe, and a lower surface, said heel member having a threaded recess in its top surface; an insert stud formed of a material having higher compressive and bending strength than the material of said heel member, said insert extending through said heel member into said recess; and a non-deformable plug having an axial crosssection greater in area than the axial cross-section of said insert, said plug positioned in said recess in bearing relationship with said stud, said plug having an externally threaded surface mating with the threads of said recess, said plug having a bearing seat within which the top of said insert is accommodated.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,328,523 8/43 Bauer 36 34 3,043,024 7/62 Haug 36-36 3,057,08'7 10/62 Gudermuth 3634 FOREIGN PATENTS 884,763 7/53 Germany. 554,702 1/57 Italy.

FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner. JORDAN FRANKLIN, Examiner. 

1. A HEEL CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING: A HEEL MEMBER HAVING A TOP SURFACE ADAPTED FOR SECUREMENT TO THE UNDERSURFACE OF A SHOE, AND A LOWER SURFACE, SAID HEEL MEMBER HAVING A RECESS IN ITS TOP SURFACE; AN INSERT STUD EXTENDING THROUGH SAID HEEL MEMBER INTO SAID RECESS; A NON-DEFORMABLE PLUG POSITIONED IN SAID RECESS IN BEARING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID STUD TO ACCOMMODATE SHOCK LOADS ON SAID STUD; AND MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID PLUG FIXED IN SAID POSITION. 